“The 2013 Almanac says that temperatures will be much colder this winter from the East Coast westward to a line from the Dakotas to Texas,” the OFA writes. “In every place west of this line, except for portions of the Desert Southwest, temperatures will be warmer than last winter.”

What about snow? The FA is a bit more bullish on snow prospects in the East compared to the OFA.

“Most eastern states – as far south as the Gulf Coast – will see snowier than normal conditions,” the FA writes.

The OFA’s snow outlook in the East is more qualified. While it forecasts above normal snow from El Paso to Detroit to Virginia Beach - covering much of the Midwest and South, it counters: “Snowfall be will below normal in most other locations...”

“The coldest periods will be from Christmas through early January and in early and mid-February,” the OFA writes. “The snowiest periods will be in mid-December, just before Christmas, and in mid- to late February.”

Unless you pay a subscription fee, the FA only offers this nugget: “We are “red flagging” February 12–15 and March 20–23 for major coastal storms along the Atlantic seaboard; storms bringing strong winds and heavy precipitation.”

Last winter’s performance

Forecasts developed by the OFA and FA for the winter of 2011-2012 both struggled compared to reality.

Left: Temperature difference from average last winter. Right: Precipitation difference from average last winter. (NOAA/Jan Null)

“The OFA winter temperature forecast did poorly with the above normal temperatures from the northern Plains and Great Lakes into New England,” Null said.

The OFA did marginally better in its precipitation forecast. It correctly predicted wet conditions in the Pacific Northwest, and dry conditions in south Florida and Great Basin, Null said.

But, “[The OFA] missed the very dry conditions in California and New England and along the Atlantic Seaboard,” Null said.

Winter 2011-2012 forecasts from the Farmers’ Almanac (top) and Old Farmer’s Almanac (bottom) (Farmers’ Almanac and Old Farmer's Almanac)

Overall usefulness of these outlooks

I’ll repeat what I wrote last year when discussing almanac outlooks: “The bottom line is that these kinds of almanac predictions are fun to review, sometimes on-target, but, until they prove otherwise, of dubious scientific or decision-making value.”

Jason is the Washington Post’s weather editor and Capital Weather Gang's chief meteorologist. He earned a master's degree in atmospheric science, and spent 10 years as a climate change science analyst for the U.S. government. He holds the Digital Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association.